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Most of the races participants were steering clear of the wolf and it's rider, as the plains and timid portion was starting to get wet, muddy, and there was the buzzing of insects. the swamp and marshes were coming up, that lead into the mountains.

here the riders were showing more thier talents and colors. many of those that went by foot were finding it difficult to traverse the terrain, adn already of thier number three were dead. one whose hand was forever frozen in a desperate reach as quicksand had consumed and suffocated. two more were bloody masses as the wildlife had found them ill prepared.

mounted riders were not having an easy time either. the snakes, gators, and such of the terrain wasn't kinder to them. though they had more chance of avoidance...larger mounts were slowed down, but faster mounts attracted more attention from wildlife and found their footing treacherous.

and to top it all off...it was starting to rain.


Twilight was waiting at the first rest stop, idly watching the mirror as many were who had sponsored a rider. the screaming and yelling from some obviously distressed women told him the race itself had started to claim victims.

She looked around for a moment in circles as James disappeared but was quick to side step away when he called out. Twilight looked pretty preoccupied there for a bit. After all, the couldn't cause too much trouble by themselves out here. "It's not about sneaking, it's about making a break for it at the right moment. All you need is one good loud noise. And then whoosh! You're off!"

"I bet employing both would work well too." He smiled, peeked out behind the tree. The race, wet and loud and in full throttle, crashed past the first way point. People cheered, contestants yelled back. And in the excitement and hoopla, Jamie and Nyelle made their break.

Jamie ran through the trees, no longer dragging Nyelle along b the hand. that would just trip her up. Keeping a line of trees in between them and the racers for protection, although the racers pulled ahead soon enough.

"Wait up!" She was trying her best to keep up with him, which she was doing a pretty good job about. Big shoes at least gave her traction, but unfamiliar clothing slowed her down a little as well. Not to mention the wind mouse on her head who was making noise and trying not to fall off with all her runing. It was neat to be running along with racers though, however that never lasted long as soon it was just stragglers.

"Oh screw the running." A blip of light and a silver keyblade later she was sitting on it side saddle as he flew along easily, grabbing James and pulling him up beside her. "Work smart, not hard." They could at least keep up a little better for a while longer like this. "How's that for ya? Flying without wings." A least for a little bit...or until forward momentum gave out.

He was carrying her with swiftness..or at least what he could manage with her new position...and once the path started getting on toward the foothills, he lowered his body for more streamline motion through the rain. but even the wolf wasn't going to try running through mountains...especially ones that were actively volcanic in places...in the rain. slick obsidian glass, falling loose rocks would be hazardous to his health.

His shaky legs hit the ground and nearly gave way under him. "Y-yeah, better." They had managed to close a little bit of the distance between them and the racers with that little trick, but being stopped as they were the quickly lost any advantage they had gained.

"We'll never keep up with them this way!"

Robin hopped the hotter terrain ahead would keep a bit of the rain off them. Either that or it would make them so humid and boggy that the fluid in the bodies would push itself out of there skin anyway. Genghis' thick fur would help insulate him from the heat a little bit, bt Robin would be stuck to suffer the heat.

She was trying to think of a way to beat that heat a bit, but was not coming up with anything quick. The mud might work, or it might boil on her skin or dry up and crack off. Leaves? Those might do...

"Well... can't do that too much for a long time or I throw up." Grinning despite the rather gross response to such things but she merely brushed herself off some and took him by the arm to help steady him. Indeed, this was not working too well. "This sucks! What's the fun of it without being in the thick of it." Shaking her head and looking to him. "Do you know where we are anyway?"